The day before they were to return home, Rose simply went and stood on their hotel balcony, breathing in the warm, sweet spring air.
She so desperately didn't want to leave and return home to reality again, but it gave her peace to know they would be back here again soon.
She did know that Germany was now one of her favorite countries in the world, however.
She heard Cal come out behind her. Turning to him, smiling a little, she leaned against him.
"Please say we can stay here at least until autumn," she said softly, and he laughed.
"Sadly, we cannot, but I do have a surprise for you. Get ready," he said.
Raising her eyebrows, she said, "Oh? Is that right?"
Smiling a little, he said, "Yes, now get ready please!"
Curiosity piqued, she did so.
Sometime later, to her delight, they were by a river, in a delightful green meadow, with all the majesty of the glorious German mountains in the distance.
The sky was blue as could be, and all around them, yellow sunflowers were in bloom.
"What is all this?" she said in delight. It seemed they had traveled for ages to get here, but she had never seen a place so beautiful in all her life.
Smiling a little, he began to spread the contents of the wicker picnic basket out on the blanket.
"This place is one of the best I know of for sightseeing," he said. "I've been here before and it is beautiful."
In awe, Rose watched as he unpacked the food, and two large mugs of crisp yellow beer.
Laughing a little, she said, "I certainly do love how beer is served with every meal here."
Cal laughed a little again, tousling his hair. "One of the many reasons why Germany is so fantastic."
Touching his arm tenderly, Rose spoke. "Cal, thank you for bringing me here, and planning this. It's beautiful."
He smiled a little, and again, the very sight of his smile sliced into her very being. It was so beautiful when he did. He was so beautiful when he did…
Rose playfully took a sip of beer, clinking her mug with his. "To a long and happy life together," she said.
He smiled at her, his eyes never leaving hers. "To a long and happy life together," he echoed, speaking slowly.
Rose looked away, instead concentrating on the mountains. "I would love to climb those someday," she said.
His response shocked her. "We will next time, then."
Rose looked at him, her jaw almost slack. "Are…you can't be serious, Cal! You…you would?"
He shrugged, grinning. "Why not?"
She couldn't help from laughing. "You amaze me, Cal Hockley. Every single day."
He grinned a little more. "Only in the good ways, I hope." He winked a little and Rose grinned a little, laughing.
Leaning in close, she tousled his hair. "Oh, only in the very, very good ways," she said.
Time seemed to slow, and he gently played with her hair. "You're so beautiful," he said softly, and she smiled.
He kissed her, and again she felt love and desire mingle within her and rise up.
When he pulled back, she was breathless. Still somewhat dazed, she cleared her throat.
"Let's eat," she said.
The food he had bought at the market was delicious…some of the most traditional and scrumptious German food and delicacies ever to be eaten. Food here was also much better than at home…
Finally, Rose drank the rest of her beer, the taste sweet and satisfying. Lying back on the quilt, she lazily closed her eyes, and Cal joined her.
Everything was so wondrous and perfect…so very dream-like. Here, at this moment, it was as though the horrible crushing loss of their child, and the nightmare of the Titanic, had all been a dream. And she was grateful for it.
Leaning into his chest more, she couldn't help falling asleep, soothed as she was by his heartbeat…and the marvelous, wondrous feel of his body, and subsequent warmth, against hers. She was blessed, and she knew that now.